UTS alumnus, Mr Kai Chen is the 2013 winner of the Austrade Australia China Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship.

Mr. Kai Chen is a University of Technology, Sydney Alumnus and is currently based in Zhangjiagang, in China’s affluent eastern Jiangsu province, where he is the general manager and founder of Jiangsu Aucksun Co.,Ltd.

The business is engaged in three areas: metal logistics, new energy and finance.

Kai Chen impressed the judging panel with his ability to build up his successful business in a relatively short period of time, listing the business on the Shenzhen stock exchange in 2008.

Moreover, the judges were impressed by Kai Chen’s entrepreneurial spirit, setting up additional product lines in the financial and new energy sectors, through the establishment of the Zhangjiagang Changsheng Microcredit in 2009.

The company also entered the LED sector in 2012.

Aucksun has seen stable growth in its metal logistics business, and is the only domestically listed company in the metal logistics industry. Currently the company operates five processing and distribution bases, including in Zhangjiagang, Dongguan and Shanghai to provide professional metal materials services to more than 1,000 enterprises. Aucksun today boasts nearly 1,000 employees and recorded a net profit of RMB 150 million in 2012.

Kai Chen has also worked for a number of foreign invested companies, including positions with Philips and a General Manager position with Van Shung Chong Coil Center, a Hong Kong listed company. 

 Kai Chen has attracted the attention of a number of media outlets for his famed “Chinese Amoeba” management system, and regularly hosts executives from a range of business circles at the company’s headquarters in Zhangjiagang.

In 2010, Kai Chen was appointed a visiting professor at Sichuan University’s Suzhou Institute, and in 2011 he was honoured with the CEO of the Year accolade of the Non-state-owned Listed A-share Companies category by Forbes Chinese website.

In 2012, he was ranked as one of Huai’an city’s Top 10 Economic Figures.

Kai Chen graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Master of Engineering Management and an MBA and continues to play an integral role supporting his former university. Kai Chen attracted attention for his passion as an advocate in applying Australian education to Chinese industry and transforming modern enterprise management.

He is a proud ambassador for UTS and Australia and recently was the guest speaker at the UTS 25-year anniversary celebration in Shanghai with the Vice Chancellor, Ross Milbourne. “He is not only successful in business, he is also very supportive of his alma mater and for Australian education more broadly,” said the judging committee of Kai Chen’s win. ■

 

To read about the other winners of this year’s ACAA / IELTS Australia China Alumni of the Year Awards visit: 

ACAA IELTS 2013 Australia China Alumni of the Year: Mr Zili Shao  

ACAA Young Chinese Australia China Alumni of the Year Award: Ms Jingjing Xi 

ACAA Young Australian Australia China Alumni of the Year Award: Mr Timothy Coghlan  

Australia China Alumni Award for Research and Innovation: Dr Aihua Wang 

CPA Australia, Australia China Alumni Award for Banking and Finance: Mr Derek Chan 

ACAA Australia China Alumni Award for Corporate Achievement: Dr Weihua Sun  

Australia China Alumni Award for Women in Leadership: Julie Song 

Australia China Connections Magazine Australia China Alumni Award for ICT and New Media: Dr Peng Tao